COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF TYPE-SPECIFIC AND CONSERVED B-CELL EPITOPES OF PINNIPED, FELID AND CANID HERPESVIRUSES

Murine monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were generated against phocid herp esviruses (PhHV 2557/Han88 and 7848/Han90) isolated from European harb our seals (Phoca vitulina), and against strains of both felid (FHV str ain FVR 605) and canid herpesviruses (CHV isolate 5105/Han89). MAbs we re characterized with respect to certain biological properties and use d to outline antigenicity profiles of isolates of PhHV (n=8), FHV (n=7 ) and CHV (n=3) in enzyme immunoassays employing fixed infected cells. A close antigenic relationship between herpesviruses derived from pin nipeds and terrestrial carnivores became evident: The majority of the MAbs was directed against epitopes which were expressed by at least tw o of the viral species tested. A number of MAbs detected epitopes whic h were conserved between all isolates of PhHV, FHV and CHV. A few MAbs recognized type-specific B-celI epitopes and facilitated the identifi cation of single viral species. Moreover, the PhHV isolate 7848/Han90 was antigenically distinguishable both from seven other phocid herpesv irus isolates and from FHV or CHV. PhHV 7848/Han90 proved to be antige nically distinct from all other viruses tested when examined by cross neutralization utilizing various reconvalescent and hyperimmune sera. Although more data are needed to ensure that PhHV 7848/Han90 indeed is a new genuine seal herpesvirus, the preliminary clustering of two gro ups of phocid herpesvirus isolates, tentatively designated PhHV-1 (typ e isolate 2557/Han88) and PhHV-2 (represented by 7848/Han90), seems to be justified. By using selected MAbs an unambiguous identification an d typing of herpesvirus isolates derived from marine mammals and terre strial carnivores is significantly facilitated.